What are meridians?
A meridian carries energy like an artery carries blood. The energy that flows through the meridians is often called Chi. Unlike arteries though, they are invisible to the human eye yet without them we could not sustain life. Meridians are our body’s “energy bloodstream” they bring vitality and balance, remove energy blockages, stagnations and imbalances, adjust metabolism and determine the speed and form of cellular change. Their flow is as critical as the flow of blood; your life and health depend on both. No Energy=No Life. Meridians have been measured and mapped by modern technological methods; electronically, radioactively and sometimes with infrared imaging.
There are twelve main meridians in the body, each associated with a particular organ system. Each meridian plays a specific and essential role in their organs health.
• Lung meridian
• Large intestine meridian
• Spleen meridian
• Stomach meridian
• Heart meridian
• Small intestine meridian
• Bladder meridian
• Kidney meridian
• Pericardium (Circulation/Sex) meridian
• Triple Warmer meridian
• Liver meridian
• Gallbladder meridian
There are certain places along the meridians where energy pools, making the energy (or chi) more accessible there than elsewhere. These “energy hotspots” are often referred to as acupuncture or acupressure points. At these specific points energy can be manipulated either increasing or decreasing the flow.
When energy flowing through the meridians becomes blocked or stagnant, or, when too much energy is overwhelming a meridian, these acupuncture points can be accessed to clear blockages and remove unwanted excess or stagnant energy. Often times acupuncture and acupressure techniques are used to relieve energetic imbalances in the meridians along with other methods such as Qigong, energy exercises, EFT, etc.
Acupuncture and acupressure both use the same meridians and points in their healing, the difference is that acupuncture uses needles while acupressure uses both soft and firm touches on the points to generate the flow of energy. EFT works by using your fingers to tap on main meridian points on your face and body whereas Qigong and energy exercises use breath work and body movement along with some meditation and tapping to cleanse and strengthen the meridians.